Multiple fraudster behind bars

Fraudster Viorica Spirache , 44, from Rays Road Edmonton was sentenced in Wood Green Crown Court on Wednesday 21st November to two years imprisonment for what the judge called ‘multiple fraud’ and ‘fraudulent from the outset’.

She was sentenced on four separate counts, three relating to benefit offences, and one relating to possession of a counterfeit document which she used to obtain benefit. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Ms Spirache used a counterfeit Home Office document to obtain benefit in the knowledge that the document was false. She paid a third party to obtain the document for her, indicating she had leave to remain in the UK, which in turn allowed her to claim benefits from various government departments. Using this she successfully obtained a total of £101,277.02 in Child Tax Credits, Child Benefit, Jobseekers Allowance and Housing/Council Tax benefit over a period of 6 years. Her Housing and Council Tax Benefit fraud alone totalled £42,215.95.

The case saw joint prosecution by Enfield Council and its partners at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Organised Fraud Unit in Birmingham .

Cllr Andrew Stafford, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property said “Defrauding the public purse is a disgusting crime which takes much needed funding away from the vulnerable people who need it most, and I am horrified by these offences, but delighted that this woman has been caught and a stop put to her fraudulent activities.

“Enfield Council is working hard to catch benefits fraudsters, and, through joint working between our fraud team in Enfield Council and our partners in other agencies, we will do everything we can to identify and bring to justice these criminals.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said “Taxpayers’ money should be going to those most in need and not to people cheating the system. We take fraud very seriously and people should know that if they are defrauding the Department they will be caught.”